Strip curtain

Abstract

The strip curtain has a plurality of glide elements which are guided by a curtain rod and connected with each other by separation-limiting devices. The free hanging curtain strips are suspended from vertical pivot axes with limited excursion. Operation of the pivot axis is by a pinion which engages a bead chain that is slidably guided by the curtain rod. The pinion is connected to the pivot axis by a worm drive, a slip coupling being provided between the pinion and the worm drive. The bead chain serves as common drive for producing pivotal movement and sliding movement of the curtain strips. The strip curtain is of simple construction and therefore reliable in operation and inexpensive and suitable for mass production.

We claim: 
     
       1. A strip curtain having glide elements guided by a curtain rod and connected to each other by separation limiting means, and which support freely hanging curtain strips from vertical pivot axes, each of which is rotatable in limited manner by an operating means including a pinion which is connected through a slip coupling with an associated pivot axis and in which the pinion meshes with a drive means which is slidably carried by the curtain rod, wherein the drive means meshing with the pinion is a bead chain, the pinion is connected with the pivot axis through a worm drive, and the slip coupling is positioned between the pinion and the worm drive. 
     
     
       2. The curtain of claim 1, wherein the worm drive includes a worm which is supported freely rotatably upon a horizontal pinion shaft and which meshes with a worm gear mounted on the pivot axis, and the slip coupling is a spring mounted on the shaft and under tension between the pinion and the worm. 
     
     
       3. The curtain of claim 2, wherein the pinion shaft and the worm are engaged in snap-in manner in a housing of the glide element. 
     
     
       4. The curtain of claim 2, wherein the worm gear has teeth only in an operating portion thereof, and wherein ends of the worm are reduced in size in steps and are adapted to bear against toothless portions of the worm gear. 
     
     
       5. The curtain of claim 1, wherein end positions of the worm drive determine limits for the pivot axis. 
     
     
       6. The curtain of claim 1, wherein the bead chain is connected together into an endless loop, in which forwardly and rearwardly extending portions are respectively located within an upper and lower guide channel within the curtain rod, and wherein the glide elements are engaged within the curtain rod so that their pinions mesh either with the upper or the lower chain portion. 
     
     
       7. The curtain of claim 6, wherein the curtain rod has internal longitudinally opposing ribs, wherein each glide element is provided with two pairs of guidance grooves positioned one above the other, and wherein either the lower or the upper guidance groove engages the ribs. 
     
     
       8. The curtain of claim 1, wherein the glide element has a leaf spring which laterally presses against an inner wall of the curtain rod and serves as a friction brake. 
     
     
       9. The curtain of claim 8, wherein the worm drive includes a worm which is supported freely rotatably upon a horizontal pinion shaft and which meshes with a worm gear mounted on the pivot axis, and the slip coupling is a spring mounted on the shaft and under tension between the pinion and the worm. 
     
     
       10. The curtain of claim 9, wherein the frictional forces developed at the slip coupling are less than the frictional forces developed at the leaf spring. 
     
     
       11. The curtain of claim 1, wherein the separation limiting means is a longitudinal platelet with an attachment point and an end bearing, wherein one such platelet is firmly attached to each glide element, and wherein protruding portions of said platelet are displaceable up to the end bearing in a slot of an adjoining glide element. 
     
     
       12. The curtain of claim 11, wherein each platelet is provided with at least one inwardly protruding projection which lies against an adjoining platelet, and wherein the platelets combine to produce a braking action during sliding displacement of the platelets. 
     
     
       13. The curtain of claim 12, wherein the worm drive includes a worm which is supported freely rotatably upon a horizontal pinion shaft and which meshes with a worm gear mounted on the pivot axis, and the slip coupling is a spring mounted on the shaft and under tension between the pinion and the worm. 
     
     
       14. The curtain of claim 13, wherein the frictional forces developed at the slip coupling are less than the frictional forces developed at the projections. 
     
     
       15. The curtain of claim 1, wherein the glide elements comprise a pull element and follower elements connected thereto. 
     
     
       16. The curtain of claim 1, wherein the bead chain forms an operating loop in addition to serving as drive means. 
     
     
       17. The curtain of claim 1, wherein beads comprising the bead chain have the cross-section of gear teeth. 
     
     
       18. A strip curtain for supporting a plurality of generally vertically oriented, freely hanging curtain strips from a curtain rod, for rotation about a generally vertical axis and for sliding movement along said curtain rod responsive to a single drive means, comprising: a plurality of glide elements guided by said curtain rod and each including a pivot which is rotatable within said glide element about a pivot axis and which includes means for engaging said curtain strips;   operating means for rotating said pivot in limited manner about said pivot axis and including a worm drive for rotating said pivot, and a pinion which is spaced from, and coaxially and rotatably associated with, said worm drive; and   a slip coupling positioned between and operatively connecting the pinion and the worm drive;   wherein said drive means is slidably carried by said curtain rod for engagement with said pinion to both axially rotate the pivots of said glide elements, and slide the glide elements along the curtain rod, responsive to operation of said slip coupling.   
     
     
       19. The curtain of claim 18, wherein said slip coupling is a spring coaxially associated with said pinion and said worm drive such that opposite ends of said spring are in engagement with side portions of said pinion and said worm drive. 
     
     
       20. The curtain of claim 19, wherein said spring is under tension so that turning moments of said pinion which exceed a selected value cause said pinion to rotate with respect to said worm drive, and turning moments of said pinion which do not exceed said selected value cause said pinion and said worm drive to rotate together. 
     
     
       21. The curtain of claim 20, wherein said turning moments are developed by said single drive means only. 
     
     
       22. The curtain of claim 21, wherein said pinion is permitted to rotate with respect to said worm drive when said drive means operates to slide said curtain strips along said curtain rod, and wherein said pinion and said worm drive rotate together when said drive means operates to rotate said curtain strips about said vertical axis. 
     
     
       23. The curtain of claim 18, wherein said drive means is a bead chain. 
     
     
       24. The curtain of claim 18, wherein said drive means is a tape. 
     
     
       25. The curtain of claim 18, wherein said drive means tangentially engages said pinion and extends perpendicular to the axis of said pinion, wherein said pinion, slip coupling and worm drive are coaxially disposed along the axis of said pinion, and wherein said pivot is perpendicular to the axis of said pinion and said drive means. 
     
     
       26. The curtain of claim 20, wherein the axis of said pivot and the axis of said curtain strip are coaxial. 
     
     
       27. The curtain of claim 18, which further comprises separation limiting means operatively connecting adjacent pairs of glide elements.